Cub Scout Parent and Pal Weekend Camping

It is with great pleasure that the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, BSA presents you with the 2014 Goose Pond Scout Reservation Venturing Camp (GPSR-VC) Leaders Guide. This is the third annual Venturing Week at GPSR, a Nationally Accreaded Venturing Camp. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Council is dedicating a week of summer camp for those of us that wear "green;" As a Venture Crew Adviser, I know firsthand the importance of having a camp designed for our Venturing units.

Goose Pond Scout Reservation staff is chartered Venture Crew 720, for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, and we take great pride in our ability to have the finest Scouts and Ventures' on staff. There is no finer summer camp staff in the Northeast Region. Since Scouting began 100 years ago, the summer camp experience has been the cornerstone of learning, fellowship and fun. Goose Pond Scout Reservation mission is to continue that tradition.

The Venturing Staff of 2014 will make this year the most diverse series of summer camps in the history of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, with camps for Boy Scouts and Venturers. This milestone will be achieved by sound camp management and the program being youth led.

As Advisers of Crews and Ships, we allow our youth to lead our units. GPSR-VC does the same. The 2014 Venturing week will host five treks that have a wide range of appeal. Newly formed Crews can focus on leadership and teamwork, Crews new to Scouting can take have a week dedicated to experiencing both Northeastern Pennsylvania Council camp in our Camps Adventure, for those looking for more high adventure we are offering both out island and camping / hiking treks as well.

The staff of Goose Pond Scout Reservation is looking forward to giving you a week to remember in 2014.

Sign-ups for this program are made by contacting John Sepcoski @ 570-472-3253 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email (preferred).

Please note: Youth can attend this Venture Camp as provisional's. The staff at GPSR and additional Venture Crew leaders will be on staff that week. Both male and female leadership have been secured. So even if you as a leader are not available to attend, the youth still can.

We offer adventure and advancement based Venturing activities. Whether you are on the quest for your Ranger award or just want to have a good time, our Venturing camp is a great place to be. Activities may include: pistol shooting, black powder, snorkeling, scuba diving, wilderness survival, advanced cooking techniques, land navigation, Leave No Trace training, cycling, first aid, rock climbing, and much more!

Venturing camp is full of activity while maintaining a laid back atmosphere. We're really looking forward to sharing these experiences with you.

Part of our Venturing camp treks takes place in an outpost campsite well suited to the activities and adventures you are most interested in. As with all high adventure activities, participants should be prepared for an appropriate level of activity. It is suggested that Venturers and Advisors interested in attending Venturing Camp prepare themselves physically prior to arrival. Participants in the Climbing Adventure should be prepared for moderate hiking with a moderate to heavy load followed by strenuous climbs. Anyone coming to our Out Island Trek should be prepared for all types of water activities. This adventure will include at least one multi-day trip.

Goose Pond Scout Reservation is now offering exciting, new opportunities for Venturers. Our Venturing Camp treks are marked by the same commitment to excellence, high quality equipment, and outstanding service the Scouting world has come to expect of us.

Our rock climbing and hiking adventure camp can take you from beginner, intermediate and advanced climbing techniques on world class stone.

Venturers will meet up in our base camp at GPSR to learn basic safety and rope work skills as well as gaining a basic understanding of climbing movement. As these skills are developed, we will travel on a hiking adventure where a Kodiak style 2 day trek will take you through some of the nicest scenery Northeast Pennsylvania has to offer. Periodic stops along the trail will provide you the opportunity to make your own penny stove, cook as a crew, learn wilderness survival techniques, leave no trace, and more.

Once the hiking trek is completed, you will be taken to Acahela Rocks for a fantastic day of climbing natural rocks featured in Boys Life, Magazine.

To cap the week, camp will close out with a full day of advanced shooting sports. The Crew on your trek will pick the shooting sports they want to focus on and we provide the instructors to help you achieve. It’s a blast.

This is a true high-adventure program, one that combines physical challenge with excitement and adventure. If you enjoy climbing and hiking then this adventure trek for you. This is a seven day event.

You will be biking and rafting in the river forms the border between Carbon and Luzerne counties, The Lehigh River. Utilizing Jim Thorpe as your base camp for 3 days, you will travel the Lehigh Gorge by Bike and by Raft. Your Biking experience will range from 20 - 40 MILES over beginner through advanced trails. There are level railroad grade trails for beginners and several steep grades for the more experienced biker. You will bike through some of the nicest scenery Northeast Pennsylvania has to offer. Periodic stops along the trail will provide you the opportunity cook as a crew, learn wilderness survival techniques, leave no trace, and more.

To cap the week, camp will close out with a full day of advanced shooting sports. The Crew on your trek will pick the shooting sports they want to focus on and we provide the instructors to help you achieve. It’s a blast.

This is a true high-adventure program, one that combines physical challenge with excitement and adventure. If you enjoy biking and rafting then this adventure trek for you. This is a seven day event.

Leadership and service to others are two key elements of the Scouting Program. Combine these two elements and you get the concept of “the servant leader.” Servant leadership as a philosophy teaches that the leader works with and through a team to accomplish the mission.

Rather than just talking about leadership, the Kodiak Challenge teaches useable, relevant leadership skills that every youth can use. This is achieved through a six day trek-oriented course providing five leadership skills: Effective Teams, Values/Vision, Communications, Decision Making, and Planning.

Why should I go to Kodiak and how will I benefit from this training?
Kodiak is a unique growth opportunity for Crews or Troops as well as individuals. Complete the course while exploring Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Take part in activities such as: Backpacking, Rappelling, Mountain Biking, Shooting Sports and Geocaching (subject to change.) Completion of the Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC) or Troop Leadership Training (TLT) is not required but is recommended!

Who can attend?
This course is Coed, open to all youth (male and female) who are registered members of a Boy Scouts of America and will be between the ages 13-20 years old by the start of the course.

You think Survivor is tough? Check out NEPA Venturing Week GPSR style. The Out Island Adventure combines camping on the 5750 acre lake Wallenpaupack. The lake is 13 miles long, has 52 miles of shoreline, and is about 60 feet deep.

You will canoe to your campsite, taking all the food, water and equipment used during your adventure. Practice canoeing strokes and rescue techniques.

Later, powerboats will take you snorkelling, tubing, water skiing and fishing on selected days.

A program mate will remain with you for the duration of your trip to assist you in appreciating this unique environment.

After a few days on the lake you will return to GPSR to work on your crew project, do some awesome night climbing with only glow sticks to light your way. Then it’s off the underworld, under the sea that is, for some scuba diving. The package is all wrapped up with a day for shooting sports.

This is a true high-adventure program, one that combines physical challenge with excitement and adventure. If you have strong camping skills and enjoy camping, then the Out Island adventure trek is for you. This is a seven day event.